55.79 in Finals of the 100m Fly

As I said to everybody I talked to today... I don't care how I swim the rest of the meet.  I had one goal for Austin: to achieve an Olympic Trial cut in the 100m Butterfly.  This morning I did just that.  I spent the day feeling great about my accomplishment, I spoke to friends and family to share the news.  Each call or email was greeted with shared enthusiasm for my achievement.  I have a great support system.  I heard from a few fellow masters swimmers as well, it means a lot to me that others care about my swimming.

My 55.19 swim in the 100m fly earned me a spot in the "B" final which was another great surprise.  I was just two tenths away from the big ("A") heat.  My morning swim was amazing in a few ways.  Namely how I took it out.  My 50m time of 24.91 was a lifetime best for me and the fastest 50m fly time of the prelims which included a handful of Olympians going 25+.  This evening I mostly checked out mentally.  I had achieved my goal and I was very satisfied with my entire meet.  I went into the evening finals with a very relaxed attitude.  I spent my day speaking to people who I care about and who care about me.  I was content swimming ANY time and I was going to be happy.  I did just that.  I warmed up well, prepared in an ideal way and got ready to race.  A friend recommended I "go out two tenths slower" and I may have more speed coming home.  I hadn't made my decision to do so till my race.  I let up a bit in the first 50m to touch at 25.13, almost exactly two tenths slower than my 24.91 morning swim.  On my second 50 I was breathing too much and seemed to fall apart a little earlier.  Honestly, my motivation just wasn't there.  It was like I had been saying all day, I didn't care how I swam, I was just so happy to have gotten another cut.  This attitude showed in my race and I touched in a 55.79, still the 2nd fastest time of my life and far under my previous best of 56.30.  Yet this time was 0.60 slower than my morning swim.  I looked up at the clock and didn't feel a thing, I was just glad it was over.  I was seeded 10th going into finals and I finished 15th.  There was only one person who took out the 50 faster than me in finals: Michael Phelps with a 24.77 to my 24.91.  I am very satisfied with my swims today.

50 Free tomorrow!